Dual Panel1THEN he looked up and saw the rich people dropping their gifts into the treasury,
2and he noticed a poor widow drop in two coppers,
3and he commented, "I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than all of them,
4for they have all put in what they can easily spare, but she in her poverty has given away her whole living."
5Then when some of them were talking about the Temple and pointing out the beauty of its lovely stonework and the various ornaments that people had given, he said,
6"Yes, you can gaze on all this today, but the time is coming when not a single stone will be left upon another without being thrown down."
7So they asked him, "Master, when will this happen, and what sign will there be that these things are going to take place?"
8"Be careful that you are not deceived," he replied. "There will be many coming in my name, saying 'I am he' and 'The time is very near now.' Never follow men like that.
9And when you hear about wars and disturbances, don't be alarmed. These things must indeed happen first, but the end will not come immediately."
10Then he continued, "Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
11there will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in this place or that. There will be dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven.
12But before all this happens, men will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogue or prison, or bringing you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.
13This will be your chance to witness for me.
14So make up your, minds not to think out your defence beforehand.
15I will give you such eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict it.
16But, you will be betrayed, even by parents and brothers and kinsfolk and friends, and there will be some of you who will be killed
17and you will be hated everywhere for my name's sake.
18Yet, not a hair of your head will perish.
19Hold, on, and you will win your souls!
20"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed forces, then you will know that the time of her devastation has arrived.
21Then is the time for those who are in Judaea to fly to the hills. And those who are in the city itself must get out of it, and those who are already in the country must not try to get into the city.
22For these are the days of vengeance, when all that the scriptures have said will come true.
23Alas for those who are pregnant and those who have babies at the breast in those days. For there will be bitter misery in the land and great anger against this people.
24They will die by the sword. They will be taken off as prisoners into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the heathen until the heathen's day is over.
25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth there will be dismay among the nations and bewilderment at the roar of the surging sea.
26Men's courage will fail completely as they realize what is threatening the world, for the very powers of heaven will be shaken.
27Then men will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and splendor!
28But when these things begin to happen, stand up, hold your heads high, for you will soon be free."
29Then he gave them a parable: "Look at a figtree, or indeed any tree,
30when it begins to burst its buds, and you realize without anybody telling you that summer is nearly here.
31So, when you see these things happening, you can be equally sure that the kingdom of God has nearly come.
32Believe me, this generation will not disappear until all this has taken place.
33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34"Be on your guardsee to it that your minds are never clouded by dissipation or drunkenness or the worries of this life, or else that day may catch you like the springing of a trap
35for it will come upon every inhabitant of the whole earth.
36"You must be vigilant at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to come safely through all that is going to happen, and stand in the presence of the Son of Man."
37And every day he went on teaching in the Temple, and every evening he went off and spent the night on the hill which is called the Mount of Olives.
38And all the people used to come early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.